Method of joining the edges of metal bands or the like



Aug. 29, 1939. A. E. soNEssoN 2,171,195

- MEfIHOD OF JOINING THE EDGES OF METAL BANDS OR THE LIKE Filed March 3, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l1 'H 1 juz/9J Aug- 29, 1939- A. E. soNl-:ssoN 2,171,195

METHOD OF JOINING THE EDGES OF METAL BANDS OR THE LIKE Filed March 3, 1936 2 Sheets-'Sheet 2 /f Ofafa l, O

.Egg/f .E

Patented Aug. 29, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE August Erland Sonesson, Sandviken, Sweden Application March 3, 1936, Serial No. 66,964 In Sweden March 6, 1935 16 Claims.

The present invention relates to joining bands, particularly metallic bands or the like, when the bands in order to maintain their ilexibility, are connected butt-to-butt instead of being united by ordinary lap-riveting or the like. The invention relates more particularly to a method of joining and refers also to tools which may suitably be used in carrying out the method.

It is known that for instance steel bands made by cold rolling in the manufacture may be given a straightness that fullls most practical requirements. The longitudinal edges of such bands appear to the eye to be quite straight. If the edges were accurately straight they would of course, in placing two bands edge-to-edge also abut against each other along the whole length but in practice this will not be the case. The bands which appear to be straight are always more or less curved laterally and as a result openings of varying lengths and widths will always arise between the opposed edges of two bands placed side by side. This causes serious disadvantages when two or more bands are to be joined side by side. It is not practicable to press or force the bands together laterally before joining in order to obtain a tight joint, as stresses then easily arise which after joining of the edges will cause irregularities in the surface of the composed band. Especially in steel bands being relatively thin, hard rolled and .often hardened and tempered, these irregularities in the surface of the band become particularly prominent and are to be found mainly in the joint zone as more or less projecting buckles or bulges.

The object of the invention is, primarily, to carry out the joining of two or more bands so as to obtain as close a joint as possible, avoiding at the same time the formation of bulges or buckles due to stresses from the joining. This is according to the invention gained by forming the edges to be joined in accordance with each other so that greater or smaller (positive) divergences from the straight form of one edge will correspond to similar (negative) divergences in the other edge of band.

According to the invention the tting together of the bands or the like to be joined is made practicable by simultaneously applying to both edges to be brought together parallel rows of holes, counter-sinkings, marks, slots, or the like which are used as guides in the subsequent forming of the edges. This forming operation of the edges may with advantage be effected by shearing or cutting in a press or other suitable machine, the holes or the like made in the edges serving as guides. Also other working operations may be used in forming the edges, such as filing, grinding and so on. The parallel rows of holes or the like being utilized as guides, an edge may be obtained with good accuracy on each of the two pieces to be joined, which edge runs parallel with the guide row, and as the rows have been made parallel, parallel edges will also be obtained, i. e., edges which t against each other and form a close joint in an even compound band.

It will be easily understood that such a method saves a great deal of labour particularly in the case of rolled metallic bands which are to be joined longitudinally where often lengths of more than 100 metres are concerned. Great divergenees from the straight form may of course occur in such lengths, and it is clear that conventional cutting, ling and fitting without using guides according to the invention would involve a lot of labour which besides would be impracticable in economical manufacture.

Generally rows of holes going right through the bands are used as guides. The holes in the diffrent rows may be made by punching, drilling or the like. Especially punching by means of a tool particularly adapted for the purpose may be used, and in making the holes arrangements advantageously may be made in order to maintain constant the distance between the holes of a row in one piece (band) and the corresponding holes in a corresponding row in the other piece. To this effect a tool may be used which is provided with two hole punches or rows of hole punches, one of which being intended for one piece and the other one for the other piece. The holes of the two pieces are thus suitably made at the same time. The same result may be obtained by means of a tool having only one row o1c hole punches if both pieces during the punching are disposed in such a manner that their edges overlap each other so that one and the same hole punch will be forced in one .operation i-lrst through one piece and then through the other piece. By this means the rows of holes become exactly congruent. Of course several rows of holes may also be punched simultaneously through two superposed bands if desired.

Different methods may be used for effecting the actual joining of the pieces after forming the edges (for instance by cutting). For instance the pieces may be connected by riveting, the holes made serving as rivet holes. Separately formed cover plates or pieces of any shape may also be employed. When forming the edges it is also possible to remove the edge portions containing the guide holesi and then to join the pieces along the trimmed edges by welding, soldering or the like. This joining may be effected either directly butt-to-butt or by welding or soldering connecting pieces to the bands.

.The present method will be illustrated in the following by an embodiment, reference being made to the accompanying drawings.

The example is assumed to concern joining steel bands longitudinally. Fig. l shows two similar bands which are curved laterally, the lateral curvature being exaggerated for the sake of clearness. The two bands to be joined are placed on an even work bench, care being taken that each band lies flush and that the edges will lie substantially parallel to each other. Without displacing the bands laterally, a series of holes is then punched simultaneously in both band edges so that the rows of holes become parallel. In case of having to diverge from the straight line owing tc irregularities of the bands, after the punching exactly the same divergencies will be found in the row of holes of one band edge as in the row of holes of the other band edge.

vWhen making the holes, the bands may be placed butt-to-butt as shown in the plan View of Fig. 2 and the vertical sectional view corresponding thereto in Fig. 4, or they may be placed so as to have the edges overlap each other as shown in the corresponding Figs. 3 and 5. In the former case a tool c having at least two pole punches or two parallel rows of punches must be used for making two rows of holes a and b whereas in the latter case one hole punch or one row of hole punches for making a single row of holes will suffice. After separating the bands, a row of holes is obtained which is congruent with the row of holes of the other band.

Generally, it is economical to use tools having several hole punches arranged in one or more rows. The hole punches in one row are arranged, practically, along a straight line. During the punching operation, however, the tool will be placed so that the row of holes will imitate as much as possible the outlines of the edges to be joined which are more or less curved laterally, and care should of course be taken to place the holes sufficiently far away from said edges. The row of holes will thus consist of a number of straight series of holes which according to the curvature of the bands form a greater or smaller angle with each other. 'Ihis is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. '7 in which the continuous line A1 indicates the edge line of the band, while the discontinuous line al indicates the row of holes. The transverse lines a2 and as illustrate the holes, a3 representing the holes which have been made by the utterrnost hole punches of one row in the tool.

If required, more than one row of holes may be made in each band, for instance, two adjacent rows, and the holes of one row may be placed in a staggered relation to the holes of the other row. 'Ihis is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 6.

The holes may also be disposed otherwise, for instance as shown in Fig. 8, in which one hole d of one row corresponds to two holes e and f in a corresponding row in the other piece. In certain cases it is suitable to arrange the holes of each row in groups having more than two holes in each group.

After punching the holes each edge of the band is cut separately in a press by means of a cutting tool comprising two guide pins, some or all of the punched holes being used as guide holes. Care should be taken that corresponding holes in the two band edges, i. e. holes which are arranged opposite or nearly opposite to each other during the punching operation, are used as guide holes. This applies especially to those holes which have been made by means of the uttermost hole punches of the punching tool. With reference to Fig. 'l this means that the holes as, as and a3 and so on should always be used as guide holes during the cutting operation. The best way to attain this is by constructing the cutting tool in such a manner that the distance between the guide pins thereof is an even fraction of the distance between the uttermost punches of the punching tool. The guide pin which during a cutting operation meshed with the first hole as (reckoned from the left in Fig. 7) will then automatically engage also the holes a3', as and so on. If these holes are not used in the cutting operation, a joint will be obtained which does not fulfil the requirements of closeness, particularly in more curved bands.

In the cutting operation the band edges may be given various shapes according to the way in which the bands are to be joined. For instance when placing the holes as shown in Fig. 6 they may be provided with projecting tongues subsequently used as connecting pieces in the joining. One example thereof is shown in Fig. 9 in which,

just as in the previous figures, the divergences from the straight form are materially exaggerated for clearness sake. When the edges are profiled, as shown, two different cutting tools, one for each edge, must be employed on account of the tongues t of the two bands being differently disposed in relation to the corresponding guide holes as, b3 and as', b3 etc. The hachured surfaces indicated by V and V1 represent two edge portions of the bands which are cut away by the respective tools. After the cutting the bands are joined by :iveting, the opposite holes of the two bands in the figure of course being passed by the same rivet. In spite of the relatively big divergences from the straight line of the joint edges proper, a close abutted joint will be obtained in an embodiment of this type if, as mentioned above, corresponding holes are used as guide holes in the cutting operation.

Instead of tongues integral with the bands separate connecting pieces may be used, one connecting piece being arranged for each pair of corresponding holes or for one hole or a group of holes in. the one band and a corresponding group of holes in the other band. When using the arrangement of the holes shown` in Fig. 2 a connecting piece is suitably used for each pair of holes a., l)` whereas in the embodiment according to Fig. 8 each connecting piece includes three holes, d, e and f.

When the edge of the band is not given a profiled form it will after the cutting operation have an outline which is composed by a number of straight lines as diagrammatically shown in Fig. 10 which relates to an embodiment in which the hole punching of the respective band (for instance A) has been effected by means of a tool having three punches in a row and cut by a tool having guide pins for the holes (as, aa) being uttermost in the punching.

If the joining of the twoubands after cutting is not to be effected by riveting but in some other way, for instance by welding, the edge portions containing the guide holes are removed duringV the cutting operation. An example illustrating the shape of the band edges after cutting is shown diagrammatically by Fig. il in which for' the sake of cleainess also the guide holes have been indicated and the edge portions which have been cut away are shown by dotted lines. In this case all the holes shown are used as guide holes.

'I'he invention is not limited to the abovementioned examples of the method of carrying out the hole punching and the forming of the edges in that a plurality of modications are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Nor is the invention limited to steel bands or metallic bands in general but may be applied to bands of other non-metallic compositions, such as fibre, Bakelite, cardboard, rubber etc. Furthermore, the invention may be applied tomaterials not in theI shape of bands, such asplates, sheets of a more or less extended form-and so on.

What I claim is:

1. A method of shaping the edges of two pieces of material such as bands, plates and the like for substantially exact matching which comprises placing the p-ieces with the two edges that are to be matched adjacent each other and in approximately parallel relation, forming a row of spaced guide means in each of said edges simultaneously and .with the said rows uniformly spaced from each other, and employing the guide means of each piece as a guide for reshaping the edge thereof to render it precisely complemental to the other of said two edges.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the row of spaced guide means in one piece of material includes a plurality of guide means for each guide means formed in the other piece of material.

3. A method of shaping the edges of two pieces of material such as bands, plates and the like for substantially exact matching which comprises placing the pieces with the edges that are to be matched adjacent each other and in approximately parallel relation, forming an elongated row of spaced guide means in each of said edges with the said rows uniformly spaced from each other and with each elongated row comprising a series of relatively short rows of guide means, and employing the guide means of each piece as a guide for cutting the edge thereof to match the edge of the other piece.

4. A method of cutting the edges of pieces of band, plate and strip material for joining which comprises arranging the material with said edges in proximity to each other, simultaneously punching in the edges of each piece a series of groups of guide holes in a row, employing the end hole of each group as a guide for the successive location and punching of other groups of holes, and employing the guide holes of each piece as a guide for cutting the edge thereof.

5. A method of cutting the edges of pieces of band, plate or strip material for joining which comprises simultaneously forming in each of the adjacently disposed edges of said pieces a row of guide holes, with the holes of one row spaced in predetermined manner from those of the other row, and employing the guide holes of each piece in cutting the edge thereof to match the other edge.

6. A method of cutting the edges of metallic bands and the like for joining which comprises placing the bands with two of the edges thereof overlapped, making a plurality of series of holes through the overlapped portions of said bands so that the series of holes form rowsr generally following the contours of the edges, and employing the holes of each band as a guide for cutting the edge thereof to match the other of said two edges.

7. A method of cutting the edges of two pieces of material for joining which comprises placing the material with the edges thereof approximately parallel, simultaneously making two parallel rows of holes one in each of the adjacent edges with the holes of the respective rows in staggered relation, and employing the holes of each piece of material in cutting the edge thereof.

8. A method of joining the edges of band or strip material such as metal bands, plates and strips which comprises forming rows of holes in the edges of the two pieces of the material, cutting the edge of each piece in accordance with the holes formed therein, placing the material with certain of the holes of the respective pieces in alinement, and placing rivets in the alined holes.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the cutting of the edges of the material leaves tongues projecting therefrom in which the holes are located.

10. A method of joining band material such as flexible metal bands and the like which comprises making a row of holes in each of the edges of the bands with the rows of holes uniformly spaced from each other, employing the row of holes of each piece of band material in cutting the edge thereof to match the edge of the other piece, placing the cut edges in abutting relation, and connecting the pieces by connecting members secured to the respective pieces by means of the holes thereof.

11. A method of cutting the edges of two bands for edge joining which comprises positioning the bands to bring the edges to be joined adjacent each other, forming in the edge portion of each of the bands a row of holes with the rows of holes uniformly spaced from each other, and matching the edge portions by employing the row of holes of each band as a guide in cutting from the edge thereof a section of material which includes the holes therein.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the mating edges of the bands are united by butt welding. i

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the mating edges of the bands are united by welding connecting strips to the bands.

14. A method of shaping one longitudinal edge of each of two elongated strips of sheet material for exact matching where said one edge of each strip is slightly and. irregularly curved laterally of the strip, comprising the steps of forming two slightly and irregularly curved but generally parallel rows of longitudinally spaced guide means in fixed position along said strips adjacent said curved edges but set back therefrom sufciently that the rows do not intersect said edges; and utilizing said rows of guide means as guides for reshaping said edges to make them precisely parallel in curvature, and complemental to each other.

15. A method of shaping one longitudinal edge of each of two elongated strips of sheet material for exact matching where said one edge of each strip is slightly and irregularly curved laterally of the strip, comprising the steps of forming two slightly and irregularly curved but generally parallel rows of holes arranged in units spaced longitudinally of said curved edges, with the units of one row substantially aligned laterally of the strips with the units of the other row, and with all of the units set back from the strip edges; and employing said rows of holes as guides for reshaping said edges to make them precisely parallel and complemental to each other.

16. 'Ihe method as dened in claim 15, wherein there are units in at least one of the rows formed as groups of more than one hole each, the number of holes in the aligned units being unequal. AUGUST ERLAND SONESSON. 

